If you're only trying to gain access to your electronics, remove your strings from the tuners and drape them over the back of the guitar leaving the string ferrules still in the body. Then omit Steps 1-4 and go directly to step 5 and then 9. Most electronic repairs can be made at Step 9 with whatever additional disassembly might be needed to make that particular repair. Or go here: Squier Strat Guitar Pickups Replacement

Good info. For those dissing these guys after going to all the work to tear down the guitar and photographing all the steps, note the title of the article, "Squier Strat Guitar Teardown". A teardown is a complete disassembly, not just removing the pickguard and electronics although it wouldn't have hurt to put step 9 between steps 5 and 6. As in any manual it doesn't hurt to read it all the way through before beginning the "teardown". As you read through the steps it becomes quickly evident you don't have to pull the neck and tuners off to get to the electronics. Thanks for posting the info guys.